Dubai Airports said in a statement that the first half of the year was its busiest on record, with annual growth of 2.3 percent, despite temporary disruptions to regional airspace in May and June.
During the 12-day Iran-Israel war, airlines canceled flights to many destinations in the Middle East as governments closed their airspace.
Average monthly passenger traffic in the first six months of 2025 was about 7.7 million passengers, or 254,000 passengers per day.
“Based on our results today and our positive outlook, we expect annual passenger traffic to reach 96 million this year, bringing us closer to the symbolic 100 million mark,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
In 2024, Dubai International Airport recorded its highest annual passenger traffic in history, with 92.3 million people.
The leaders in passenger traffic to Dubai are India, Saudi Arabia, and Britain.
The Emirati city, situated at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, has been recognized as the world’s busiest air hub for international passengers for a decade.
Dubai plans to expand the airport by $ 35 billion in 2032 and move it to Al Maktoum International Airport, located on the outskirts of the city.
The new airport will be expanded in phases, with an eventual capacity of about 240 million people, and is expected to become the largest in the world.
